The Canadian author Neil Pasricha presented in an article written for Harvard Business Review 8 ways to increase the number of books you read. Here they are, summarised:
- Centralise reading in your home… and get away from the dopamine addictive provider TV is.
- Make a public commitment… using social influence as a constructive tool.
- Find a few trusted, curated lists… to find your way amongst the thousands of books published every month. Get inspired and inspire others.
- Change your mindset about quitting… as this will empower you. And keep in mind the first five pages test” before you buy any book. « No pain no gain » is meaningless here.
- Take a “news fast” and channel your reading dollars… to concentrate your budget on what is worth it and optimise your ROI.
- Triple your churn rate. Consider your bookshelf as a living organism, add and reorganise books you love, remove the others, play with them and enjoy it.
- Read physical books… as this will visually support your own evolution on top of protecting you from the inevitable lapses in concentration that would occur with electronic devices… And protecting you from additional useless dopamine.
- Reapply the 10,000 steps rule. A marathon always starts with the first millimeter. It’s the same with reading, page after page.
Rebecca Temsen from Self Development Secrets also encourage readers to increase their bookshelf turnover and to maintain a reading list. She also suggests two other tips:
- Make your reading more social as sharing will make you grow.
- Consider audiobooks to stimulate other senses and e-books for their convenience and the potential access they give to a larger library.
Happy reading!
PS: By the way, what is the book you you most enjoyed recently? Mine is The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt.
Sources: hbr.org, selfdevelopmentsecrets.com